Spartan Mowers Releases 2025 Product Lineup
Jessica Schwartz
Phoenix Elementary School Wins “Our Winning Green Space” Contest
When Maxine O. Bush Elementary School Principal Leslie Saulsby learned about the Project EverGreen “Our Winning Green Space” contest, he decided to enter but never thought he had a chance of winning. His response upon receiving a phone call with the news that his school had won was “I’m shocked!” As the contest winner, the Phoenix, AZ school received an Exmark Lazer Z X-Series 60-inch riding mower and 30-inch walk-behind mower that will help maintain the school district’s athletic fields and grounds helping to create safer playing fields, as well as an athletic field make-over. The mower package – donated by Exmark and delivered to the school grounds by the local Horizon distributor – includes commercial grade mowers that the school will keep, even beyond the renovation. The school’s athletic and recreation fields were barely usable and presented a safety issue due to an aging and damaged irrigation system, drainage, and seeding that resulted in uneven playing surface that was dotted with bald spots, rocks, and weeds. As a result, the 400-student school – kindergarten through 8th grade – was unable to use the fields for recess, physical education classes, or after-school sports, according to Saulsby, a former athletic director. “This meant our students have half of the athletic opportunities that other students at nearby schools,” said Saulsby. “The fields are a hinderance to having a proper PE and health curriculum as well as having a usable space for recess and activities which are essential to the individual student ...
Phoenix Elementary School Wins “Our Winning Green Space” Contest
When Maxine O. Bush Elementary School Principal Leslie Saulsby learned about the Project EverGreen “Our Winning Green Space” contest, he decided to enter but never thought he had a chance of winning. His response upon receiving a phone call with the news that his school had won was “I’m shocked!” As the contest winner, the Phoenix, AZ school received an Exmark Lazer Z X-Series 60-inch riding mower and 30-inch walk-behind mower that will help maintain the school district’s athletic fields and grounds helping to create safer playing fields, as well as an athletic field make-over. The mower package – donated by Exmark and delivered to the school grounds by the local Horizon distributor – includes commercial grade mowers that the school will keep, even beyond the renovation. The school’s athletic and recreation fields were barely usable and presented a safety issue due to an aging and damaged irrigation system, drainage, and seeding that resulted in uneven playing surface that was dotted with bald spots, rocks, and weeds. As a result, the 400-student school – kindergarten through 8th grade – was unable to use the fields for recess, physical education classes, or after-school sports, according to Saulsby, a former athletic director. “This meant our students have half of the athletic opportunities that other students at nearby schools,” said Saulsby. “The fields are a hinderance to having a proper PE and health curriculum as well as having a usable space for recess and activities which are essential to the individual student ...
Reducing Water Needs At A Desert Property
In Arizona, a program to replace the green grass turf with native desert landscape around Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is anticipated to save $400,000 annually in labor and materials as well as millions of gallons of water. The airport has embraced the xeriscape approach—a landscaping method developed for arid and semi-arid climates that utilizes water conserving techniques (such as the use of drought tolerant plants, mulch, and efficient irrigation). This turf replacement and landscaping project, completed in June 2019, is a step toward a more sustainable future for the airport—and the city. This region is known for its dryness and intense summer heat, which puts a premium on water. This means water conservation is essential for the Phoenix metropolitan area’s long-term sustainability. Water consumption at Sky Harbor airport averages 30 million gallons per month, necessitating such conservation efforts like the use of low-irrigation xeriscape. Removing all grass turf (that demands high water consumption) from airport grounds is expected to dramatically reduce water usage, by 5.375 million gallons per year. Replacing the grass (that also required high maintenance as well as water) is suitable desert scenery that includes the following: 435 new low-water-use trees 75 saguaros (type of cactus), 61 of which were salvaged from the areas where turf was removed 275 large signature cacti (ocotillo, senita, totem pole, Mexican fence post, organ pipe, and Argentine toothpick); About 2,900 accent plants and shrubs These succulents and drought tolerant plants are hallmarks of the desert. But, meanwhile another new landscape feature ...
Project EverGreen: Swinging For The Fences For Kids
Project EverGreen, the national nonprofit devoted to creating a greener, healthier, cooler Earth; the Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA), the city of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department, local businesses and residents teamed up on January 21 at the half-a-century old Lindo Park in South Phoenix, AZ to give the 22-acre park something the community has always wanted: a real ball field. Volunteers including sports field managers, lawn care professionals, landscape contractors, groundskeepers and neighborhood youth assisted with the transformation that had an estimated value in excess of $50,000. The project included: Surveying the field to determine existing and proposed elevations for the playing surface. Laying out new grass edges along 1st and 3rd base lines. Re-inspecting and adjusting the irrigation system to insure proper coverage in the outfield. Fertilizing and silting seed for the outfield turf – nearly 60,000-square-feet. Laying out and rebuilding the pitcher’s mound and installing a new pitching rubber. Laying out and rebuilding the batter’s boxes/catcher’s box and installing a new home plate. Grading the infield surface to cut high areas and fill low areas. Installing sod to repair areas of damaged turf. “Neighborhoods deserve a healthy park or community green space that they can call their own,” says Cindy Code, executive director of Project EverGreen. “Thriving parks create a community hub for neighbors – young and old – to connect and helps to instill pride in their community and confidence in area residents, and creates a place for adults and youth to exercise and have fun.” ...
